Dinosaur Ridge - Bird Conservancy of the Rockies (07 Mar 2021) 8 Raptors
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rep...@hawkcount.org
Mar 7, 2021, 5:19:39 PM3/7/21
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Dinosaur Ridge - Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
Colorado, USA
Visitors:
Matthews-Winters and Zorro parking lots were overflowing. We spoke with Rob, a Jeffco Ranger. He mentioned there’s a group of about seven TUVUs that are local. We saw them kettling over Mt. Morrison. Number of visitors to the platform: 66.
Weather:
Cloud cover over most of the sky all watch and winds were generally from the south. Very comfortable weather. The trail is mostly dry. Weather Station: NOAA Lakewood.
Raptor Observations:
Migrating Raptors: Our first RTHA flew from Chatfield over Green Mtn. All other migrating Raptors were very high up (HoF 4) over the western foothills. 

FEHA close overhead on I-70 in Lakewood as we were driving to the site—not counted. 
 Non-Migrating Raptors: 
Local RTHA in cottonwoods at MW park. Two local RTHA circling above MW park then west over the Saddle towards Genesee. Local BAEA flew south from Apex to Mt Morrison below horizon.
Non-raptor Observations:
DEJU-1, TOSO-3, CORA-5, ROPI-2, BBMA-2, AMCR-3.
Report submitted by DAVID HILL (davidh...@gmail.com)
Dinosaur Ridge - Bird Conservancy of the Rockies information may be found at: http://www.birdconservancy.org/
More information at hawkcount.org: [Site Profile] [Day Summary] [Month Summary]
Site Description
Dinosaur Ridge is the only regularly staffed hawkwatch in Colorado and is the
best place in the world to see migrating Ferruginous Hawks. Dinosaur Ridge may
be the best place in the country to see the rare dark morph of the Broad-winged
Hawk (a few are seen each spring). Hawkwatchers who linger long enough may see
resident Golden Eagles, Red-tailed Hawks and Prairie Falcons, in addition to
migrating Swainson's, Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawks, American Kestrels and
Turkey Vultures. Peregrine Falcons and Ferruginous Hawks are uncommon; Northern
Goshawk is rare but regular. Non-raptor species include Rock Wren, and sometimes
Bushtit, Western Bluebird, Sandhill Crane, White-throated Swift, American White
Pelican or Dusky Grouse. Birders are always welcome.
The hawkwatch is generally staffed by volunteers from Bird Conservancy of the
Rockies from about 9 AM to around 3 PM from March 1st to May 7th.
Directions to site:
From exit 259 on I-70 towards Morrison, drive south under freeway and take left
into first parking lot, the Stegosaurus lot. Follow small signs from the south
side of lot to hawkwatch site. The hike starts heading east on an old two-track
and quickly turns south onto a trail on the west side of the ridge. When the
trail nears the top of the ridge, turn left, head through the gate, and walk to
the clearly-visible, flat area at the crest of the ridge.
Colorado, USA
| Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 07, 2021 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Northern Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 4 | 22 | 22 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Swainson's Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Merlin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Prairie Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mississippi Kite | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Accipiter | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Buteo | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total: | 8 | 33 | 33 |
| Observation start time: | 10:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 14:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 4 hours |
| Official Counter | Mike Fernandez |
| Observers: | Karen Fernandez |
Visitors:
Matthews-Winters and Zorro parking lots were overflowing. We spoke with Rob, a Jeffco Ranger. He mentioned there’s a group of about seven TUVUs that are local. We saw them kettling over Mt. Morrison. Number of visitors to the platform: 66.
Weather:
Cloud cover over most of the sky all watch and winds were generally from the south. Very comfortable weather. The trail is mostly dry. Weather Station: NOAA Lakewood.
Raptor Observations:
Migrating Raptors: Our first RTHA flew from Chatfield over Green Mtn. All other migrating Raptors were very high up (HoF 4) over the western foothills. 

FEHA close overhead on I-70 in Lakewood as we were driving to the site—not counted. 
 Non-Migrating Raptors: 
Local RTHA in cottonwoods at MW park. Two local RTHA circling above MW park then west over the Saddle towards Genesee. Local BAEA flew south from Apex to Mt Morrison below horizon.
Non-raptor Observations:
DEJU-1, TOSO-3, CORA-5, ROPI-2, BBMA-2, AMCR-3.
Report submitted by DAVID HILL (davidh...@gmail.com)
Dinosaur Ridge - Bird Conservancy of the Rockies information may be found at: http://www.birdconservancy.org/
More information at hawkcount.org: [Site Profile] [Day Summary] [Month Summary]
Site Description
Dinosaur Ridge is the only regularly staffed hawkwatch in Colorado and is the
best place in the world to see migrating Ferruginous Hawks. Dinosaur Ridge may
be the best place in the country to see the rare dark morph of the Broad-winged
Hawk (a few are seen each spring). Hawkwatchers who linger long enough may see
resident Golden Eagles, Red-tailed Hawks and Prairie Falcons, in addition to
migrating Swainson's, Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawks, American Kestrels and
Turkey Vultures. Peregrine Falcons and Ferruginous Hawks are uncommon; Northern
Goshawk is rare but regular. Non-raptor species include Rock Wren, and sometimes
Bushtit, Western Bluebird, Sandhill Crane, White-throated Swift, American White
Pelican or Dusky Grouse. Birders are always welcome.
The hawkwatch is generally staffed by volunteers from Bird Conservancy of the
Rockies from about 9 AM to around 3 PM from March 1st to May 7th.
Directions to site:
From exit 259 on I-70 towards Morrison, drive south under freeway and take left
into first parking lot, the Stegosaurus lot. Follow small signs from the south
side of lot to hawkwatch site. The hike starts heading east on an old two-track
and quickly turns south onto a trail on the west side of the ridge. When the
trail nears the top of the ridge, turn left, head through the gate, and walk to
the clearly-visible, flat area at the crest of the ridge.
Michael T
Mar 8, 2021, 11:10:13 AM3/8/21
to Colorado Birds
I have a question in regards to the observed Turkey Vultures. Since they don't overwinter here and all of them are currently on the move, how can any observed TUVU's be considered local? Is there a verified roost tree nearby that contains these specific birds? What are the parameters for differentiating between "local" TUVU's and migrating ones?
Just curious
Michael Tincher
Loveland, CO
mi...@curu.org
Mar 10, 2021, 11:48:45 AM3/10/21
to Colorado Birds
I was reporting what a Jefferson County Open Space ranger told us. TUVUs migrate to Colorado in the spring and hang around here into summer. Some may refer to these visitors as "locals," versus the ones who keep going north of here. For Hawkwatch, we don't count the seasonal residents as migrators; we only count the birds who continue northbound above our platform at Dinosaur Ridge. Hope that helps.
-mike
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